Owasso Couple Start Petition For Oklahoma To Secede From The U.S.

One week after President Obama's re-election, two online petitions ask the White House to allow Oklahoma to secede from the United States and become its own country.

One of those petitions was started by an Owasso couple, who say they're fed up with the federal government.

Matthew and Misty Morrison say they don't expect it to happen anytime soon, but they are dead serious about Oklahoma seceding from the union.

"I believe, we believe that a smaller government is the best for us," Misty said.

Misty and Matthew Morrison have taken their outrage directly to the President.

11/13/12 Related Story: Thousands Sign Petitions For Oklahoma To Secede From U.S.

The Owasso couple created a petition on the White House website asking that Oklahoma be allowed to "Peacefully...withdraw from the United States" and "create its own, new government."

Misty Morrison: "We have lost our morals and values as a nation, they are gone."
Dan Bewley: "And you think the answer is for Oklahoma to secede?"
Misty Morrison: "Yes, I do."

The Morrisons say they have a number of reasons why Oklahoma should secede—they cite the national debt, out of control government agencies, and so on.

"If we stay on the same road it's going to be a one world government," Misty said. "Our own government was running guns into Mexico."

Oklahoma currently has two petitions asking to secede and other petitions asking the same have begun in at least 20 other states.

The Morrisons started theirs four days after President Obama was re-elected to a second term.

"I'm not angry. I'm not a right wing extremist. I just believe that our government should have very small amounts of power," Matthew said.

There's no established process for a state to secede from the union, other than for it to officially ask Congress. Tuesday, Governor Fallin issued a very short and stern statement about the subject, "Oklahoma is not going to secede from the union."

Dr. Michael Hirlinger is a professor of history and government at ORU.

He says even if state leadership asked Congress to secede, the chances of it actually happening are slim to none.

"It would have to be just an incredible justification or reason why they would say okay to it," Hirlinger said.

The Morrisons expect a backlash, but say they're doing it for their children.

Dan Bewley: "Do you feel like you are committing treason by creating this petition?"
Misty Morrison: "No, the opposite. By sitting and doing nothing that is committing treason."

The White House has only said it will respond to these petitions after they have gathered more than 25,000 legitimate signatures.

The Republican party of Oklahoma says it has no official position on the issue and that it's not promoting or pushing for secession.